Revived perfumistas thread 2

[maryclarey]

Let's go!

I have a mini that I swapped with Toys about a year ago. The shape of the mini bottle looks like what is sold as vintage but very difficult to know as I don't have a long history with Femme. It always smelled too mature to me - another middle-aged perfume - but I think I have grown into it

Lol, beige pop socks Frugal!
There's nothing wrong with an elasticated waist, they make some very nice polyester ones.

I did a bit of snooping and it seems that the pre-1989 version of Femme had a decaying peach note. That sounds intriguing but my version smells clean and the bottle looks newer than 1989. Still, Femme has a fascinating backstory - it's funny how these stories make a lovely perfume even more lovely.

Luca Turin on the modernized Femme:

Femme (Rochas) * * * woody floral
Some deep principle seems to be at work here (see Arpège): when you cheapen the formula of a big classic feminine, it morphs into a masculine. This suggests that (1) boys’ fragrances have always been cheap stuff and (2) girls have expensive tastes. Either way, Femme, now a shadow of its former self, has grown a mustache and might as well be called Homme. That said, nice woody floral with lactonic notes.

YetAnotherNC your Shalimar is a treasure
If you don't like the Miss Dior and don't want to keep it for sentimental value, you can eBay it and get something that you really love. Some of my favorite perfumes come from someone else's stash - eBay is great for old bottles.

Oh I LOVE the idea of a scent track to films! I'm going to have to ponder that and come back to it....

Santal Massoia (Hermes) today in an attempt (totally failed, as you can see) to feel efficient and get on with writing a sodding report that I am SOOOO behind with.

Will stop spamming the thread with links but Victoria Frolova (Bois de Jasmin) talks about Roudnitsa's perfumes on her recent FT column!

Oh and yy to more scent tracks! Bring them on!

Frugal, yes I might just put Miss Dior on eBay. I could pay some of my eBay perfume purchases with the proceeds... ...which might happen to include a bottle of vintage (no idea date, just not the most recent one) Femme! Can't wait to smell it and see if it has the decaying peach note.

Off to read all the links!

And now I must Step away from the eBay auctions....

Weekend edition of the FT used to be one of the luxuries around here, but I got tired of seeing so much ridiculously costly stuff! But Bois de Jasmin's Victoria's columns are always worth reading, as are many of their columnists.

SoTD is Osmanthus... the cheap R&G one, a favourite cheap thrill.

Oooh, Shalimar is the stuff of dreams...I'd be lucky to find a bottle of White Linen in my mother's stash

(2) girls have expensive tastes. Either way, Femme, now a shadow of its former self, has grown a mustache and might as well be called Homme. Hehe, that tickled me

The illustration you tracked down is gorgeous MrsBoJangles. Somehow the photographic imagery used in perfumery advertising strikes me as too specific, and hence off putting. Congratulations on your treasure, and your courage.

Rather liking the Gala on first use; it strikes me as confident and perhaps suitable (patted on with a very light touch) for meeting the head and teachers at DS's proposed new school later on.

Hope there's room for one more? I've been following both threads, but have only just name-changed since the MN password theft last year so thought I'd get more involved.

I've always loved wearing perfume and go through quite a few bottles each year, but have only just started to educate myself on scent - strangely enough due to a change in financial circumstances. I can no longer afford to buy 100ml bottles of expensive perfume so I need to find new ways to satisfy my olfactory needs.

So I'm at the start of my journey and eager to learn. I've only just discovered fragrantica and have looked up my recent perfumes which confer what I thought - that longevity and silage was crap (Diptyque Tam Dao, l'occitane Verbana/ Neroli & Orchidee/ Jasmin & Bergamot, Prada Infusion d'Iris).

So far I have invested in...

• 10 samples from Pell Wall perfumes (still waiting)
• 2 discovery boxes from Juliette Has A Gun (still waiting)
• (don't laugh) ToL Tweed, Coty L'Aimant, Jovan Musk for women, Yardley Lily of the Valley.

All for less than a 100ml bottle of perfume with poor longevity. However, I am lacking the woody sandlewood scent that I love (I hope some of the samples will satisfy my woody needs).

Yesterday I also picked up 2 x 100ml bottles of fragrance (not the body spray) from Soap and Glory for £1.75! The Orangeasm smells lovely (green mandarin and bergamot scent) but longevity is crap and does not last (like a cheap cologne) but for the price I don't mind, it makes a nice air freshener for the toilet. However, the Mist You Madly is lovely and a couple of sprays lasted on my skin for a good 4-5 hours. It is floral with a touch of spice, creamy vanilla and woody base note with lovely fresh spring flowers (freesia).

*sandalwood (obviously a perfumista in training)

I have been pondering a bottle of Tweed for ages. I want to smell like my youth! (not that I wore it, but I'm sure all the aunts and grannies did!) Panache gets good write ups as being something not to sneer at, I remember my step granny wore that.

My 2ml phial of Coromandel arrived today. It will be sniffed occasionally but saved for Autumn/Christmas I think.

Sotd good old Chanel 19 and I can't smell a bloody thing because I have a stinking cold, so went for the biggest bottle of whatever.

We like new chums here, BluebellGal: welcome. My sandalwood fix comes from the R&G soap of the same name (DH's only fragrant weakness is posh soap), so this is a regular in the bathroom rotation.

Rather liking the Gala on first use; it strikes me as confident and perhaps suitable (patted on with a very light touch) for meeting the head and teachers at DS's proposed new school later on.

Perfect for that, it's a very 'proper' scent, I'm far too dishevelled for it! Agree about photographic adverts, particularly when a celeb is used to front a campaign - it does rather take away the mystique.

Welcome BluebellGal, lovely name

SOTD: Shazam! A robust contrast to the pretty old Dior's.

Thanks all for welcoming wishes

The tweed is heavy - just what I wanted! I picked up a full nearly new bottle for 99p on ebay - I guess it's not that popular but I wanted to try it! I saw Panache in boots, I think it was around £6, might pick that up next time.

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark ooh love Chanel, those are the perfumes I can no longer afford. Happy memories of Chanel Coco on my wedding day. Haven't heard of Coromandel but looking at the notes, looks like something I would like but too exlusive and out of my price range!

cressetmama will have to seek out that soap, I think they sell it at my local pharmacy (main location of my recent perfume sniffing sessions)

MsBojangles my name is inspired by the bluebells currently carpeting my garden - so beautiful

Fab article in the Telegraph today about ingredients....(best not to dwell on many of them!)

www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/make-up/whale-vomit-faeces-and-urine-whats-really-in-your-perfume/

^ That was a good read...no wonder Miss Dior doesn't smell the same any more

Very interesting article - thank you!

I'm getting the 1953 perfume from Pell Wall , which is based on the Coronation oil mentioned in the article, so will be interesting to see what the Ambergis smells like as I've never come across this before.

^ Don't think I'll be seeking out a TF's Black Orchid sample if it smells like a man's crotch. Not at that price anyway

I am hanging my nose (not literally!) over Black Orchid since smelling it at Gatwick at Christmas....I literally went "phwoaaaaarr" and erm, well now I know why.

I have just ordered a 2ml of Tam Dao after spending far too long on Bois de Jasmine again.

I must smell Black Orchid after your description ThenLaterWhenItGotDark !

Enjoy your Tam Dao, the perfect sandalwood scent - I love it (just doesn't last that long on me)

I have always loved sandalwood too, my Mum always had Morny Sandalwood soap at Christmas. Gorgeous.

Also wanted to thank Ms Bojangles for the lovely illustrations - I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling through them I love old ads.

You ladies are a bad influence: I may have scored some rare Dior on eBay last night - more Roudnitska. From Lithuania! Can't wait.

Welcome Bluebell!

SOTD Un Parfum d'Ailleurs et Fleurs. The opening seconds are breathtakingly vivid and beautiful, photorealistic spring flowers.